Orphaned baby elephant remains in human care as herds refuse to take it

With aggregate attempts by the Forest Department to reunite an orphaned elephant calf with antithetic herds failed, the carnal aged astir 3 months is presently sheltered successful the Wildlife Transit and Treatment Centre astatine Pethikuttai successful Sirumugai range.

District Forest Officer N. Vengatesh Prabhu said the babe elephant is kept successful a structure designed for calves astatine the centre, nether the attraction of experienced mahouts and assistants from Kozhikamuthi elephant campy of the Anamalai Tiger Reserve.

He said efforts to reunite the calf with a affable herd were halted astir 3 days ago, arsenic nary herd was accepting it contempt aggregate attempts made from April 25, erstwhile it was found orphaned connected a wood fringe astatine Kanthavayal adjacent Sirumugai.

“The calf approached immoderate herds successful the archetypal days erstwhile unit guided it to them. With a fewer instances of chasing by big elephants, the calf appeared reluctant oregon acrophobic of approaching herds later. To debar imaginable attacks and daze to the calf, it has been kept successful the shelter,” Mr. Prabhu said.

The DFO connected Wednesday wrote a missive to the Chief Wildlife Warden, detailing the presumption of the calf and seeking support to displacement it to an elephant campy of the Department for further care.

Mr. Prabhu said 3 veterinarians examined the calf and each of them person declared it healthy.